Alvin Kamara’s MVP Odds Take a Major Hit with Ingram Back

With backfield mate Mark Ingram suspended for the first four games of the 2018 NFL season, Alvin Kamara figures to carry the load. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire)

New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara was already a longshot to win the NFL MVP at odds of +1700

The return of Saints RB Mark Ingram saw Kamara’s odds jump to +2700

Only one RB has been named NFL MVP since 2007

Was Alvin Kamara’s new lot in life by design, or a sign of what the future holds? Monday’s 43-19 drubbing of the Washington Redskins by the New Orleans Saints demonstrated a different look to the Saints’ offensive scheme.

In his first game back from a four-game NFL suspension for a positive PED test, Mark Ingram was the workhorse in the Saints’ backfield. He carried the ball 16 times for 53 yards.

Kamara had just six carries for 24 yards and three receptions for 15 yards, a total of nine touches for 39 yards. Through the four games without Ingram, Kamara averaged 22.75 touches and 152.75 yards per game.

Sportsbooks did the math too, and the result was that Kamara’s NFL MVP odds skyrocketed. He had been at +1700 through the first month of the season. View the “Top 10 Contenders” tab to see how his odds have fluctuated.

Average NFL MVP Odds

Here’s how Bovada sees the NFL MVP race at the moment:

NFL MVP Odds at Bovada

It should be taken into consideration that Kamara went into that game nursing a knee injury and with the Saints on their bye week this week, they may have lightened his workload as a precautionary measure.

Was Kamara a Legit Contender?

In all honesty, you’d have to say no. Money wagered on a Kamara MVP ticket would be money wasted. Running backs just don’t win MVP awards, and when they do, it generally requires that they achieve something other-wordly.

In 2012, when Adrian Peterson of the Vikings was the most recent RB MVP, he rushed for 2,097 yards, just nine yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single season NFL record.

A veteran journalist, Bob Duff has written over two-dozen books, including authorized biographies of Johnny Bower, Desmond Howard and Gordie Howe. He has covered the Super Bowl, World Series, World Cup, NBA Finals, March Madness and the Olympic Games.

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